Wiring device



P 1961 G. c. LENNOX 3,002,171

WIRING DEVICE Filed Aug. 17, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 p 1961 G. c. LENNOX 3,002,171

WIRING DEVICE Filed Aug. 17, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 32 27 Fig. 6.

wmi sg eg INVENTOR George C. Lennox ATTORNEY P 1961 G. c. LENNOX 3,002,171

WIRING DEVICE Filed 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 72 72 3 273 I 54 7 56 5O I 5056 7 54 46 46 62 4 s2 24 so so 64 58 64 Fig. 9 3s 26 as N 84 G DEVICE George C. Lennox, Southbury, Conn., assignor to The Bryant Electric Company, Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Aug. 17, 1956, Ser. No. 604,745 19 Claims. (Cl. 339-52) My invention relates to a wiring device and more particularly to a new and improved lampholder for me- States Patent.

chanically supporting and electrically connecting a lamp having recessed terminals.

In the past it has been general practice to provide some lamps, such as elongated tubular fluorescent lamps, with a pair of spaced, outwardly extending terminals at each end of the lamp. Although such. construction has been universally accepted, it has not been entirely satisfactory in view of the fact that the outwardly extending terminals may easily be damaged and under certain conditions may constitute an electrical hazard. In order to overcome these objections, there is presently commercially available a lamp having spaced terminals which are recessed within the base of the lamp. As can be appreciated, such a new type of lamp base requires a new type of lampholder in order to support and electrically energize the terminals of the lamp. As can also be appreciated, it is quite desirable that any lampholder for such lamps be interchangeable with the lampholders which are presently used with the previous types of lamps in order that the existing lighting installations may easily be converted to use the new type of lamp.

Accordingly, one object of my invention is to provide a new and improved lampholder for use with a lamp having recessed contacts.

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved turret type lampholder having a retractable plunger with at least one contact mounted therein and a spring for biasing both the plunger and the contact.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved lampholder having a pair of spaced terminals supported in a plunger and having integral means on the back surface of the plunger for engaging the electrical supply conductors and relieving the stress thereon.

A more particular object of my invention is to provide a new and improved lampholder having an elongated conical spring for biasing a plunger outwardly and hav ing an outwardly extending arm at one end thereof for biasing a terminal mounted in the plunger.

A more particular object of my invention is to provide a new and improved lampholder having a cantilever beam type spring extending through a clearance opening in a lamp terminal engaging contact to bias the contact in a plurality of directions.

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved lampholder having a conical spring which is supported at one of its ends by means of an opening in an insulating member.

Another more specific object of my invention is to provide a new and improved lampholder with a terminal mounted therein having an opening therein through which a beam type spring extends to properly bias the terminal.

These and other objects of my invention will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, when taken in conjunction with the attached drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a wiring device constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention, having the lamp terminal engaging means -removed from the central plunger;

. FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the wiring device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the wiring device shown in FIG. 2 with parts thereof removed, and taken along the linesII I-III thereof;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the wiring device shown in FIG. 2 with parts thereof removed and taken along the lines IV- IV of 'FIG. 6;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the wiring device shown in FIG. 4 taken substantially along the lines V--V thereof;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the wiring device shown in FIG. 4 taken along the lines VI-VI thereof;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged side elevational view of a contact and the supporting structure therefor of a Wiring device as shown in FIGS. 1 to 6;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of a plunger as used in the wiring device shown in FIGS. 1 to 6;

FIG. 9 is a view of a plunger similar to FIG. 7 except that the complete plunger is shown and one end of a lamp just prior to engagement of the lamp base with the wiring device contacts; I

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 but with the lamp base fully engaged with the wiring device contacts;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a plunger takensubstantially along the line XIXI of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 12 is a partial enlarged rear elevation view of a wiring device plunger.

Referring to the drawings, it will be noted that a wiring device constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention may comprise an upper support 2 having an integral back plate 4 extending transversely downwardly therefrom. The support 2 is of any suitable configuration so as to be easily secured to the supporting channel of a lighting fixture (not shown) in a manner well known in the art. As shown, an elongated cupshaped housing 6 is provided having three longitudinally spaced, downwardly extending semicircular extensions 12 for receiving the lower edge of generally circular plungers 14 therein. The back plate 4 is also provided with similar downwardly extending semicircular extensions in order to close the open side of the housing 6. In order to positively secure the back plate 4 and housing 6 together, spaced aligned openings are provided in the plate 4 and housing 6, respectively, through which any suitable securing means, such as rivets 7 may extend. As is customary for supporting structures of this type, the housing 6 and the back plate 4 are formed from sheet steel; however, any structural material having suflicient structural strength may be utilized for their construction.

As more clearly shown in FIGS. 2, 5 and 6, a back insulator 16 is provided which is substantially of the same size and outer configuration as the back plate 4. The upper edge of the insulator 16 intermediate its length is provided with an integral projection 8 which extends through an-open sided notch 18 in the free edge of the upper side wall of the housing 6, so as to be clamped be tween the base of the notch 18 and the back plate 4. The lower part of each extension 12 is also provided with an upwardly and laterally extending guide 20 which terminates inwardly of the free edge of the housing 6 so as to provide a ledge to clamp the lower portion of the in sulator 16 in engagement with the supporting plate 4. In order to permit the rivets 7 to extend therethrough suitable aligned holes are provided in the insulator 16.

As will become apparent herein, the insulator 16 may readily be formed from one piece of an insulating material such as a sheet of phenolic insulating material. As shown, however, the insulating support 16 is preferably formed from a pair of identical contoured sheets of insulating material 16a and 16b with the sheet 1611' engaging the back plate 4 and sheet 16b engaging the inner I 3,002,171 v V surface of the sheet 16a. In addition to the structure of the insulator 16 as heretofore described, the sheet 16b is provided with a plurality of longitudinally and laterally spaced circular openings 22 which are located as hereinafter described. In order to permit the sheets 16a and 16b to be held permanently together, any suitable means may be utilized, such as hollow rivets 11, through which the rivets 7 may extend.

Referring particularly to the showing of the plunger 14 at the left of FIG. 3, to the plungers 14 of FIG. 4 and to FIG. 5, it will be noted that each of the plungers 14 comprises a main body portion 24 having an integral circular convex outer face projection 26 extending outwardly from the front thereof. An integral convex segment 27 is also provided on the plunger 14 which extends outwardly from the back of the main body portion 24. As shown, three longitudinally spaced plungers 14 are located within housing 6, and accordingly, the front of housing 6 is provided with three longitudinally spaced circular openings 28 having centers coincident with the centers of the extensions 12 to permit the projections 26 to be engaged from the outside of the housing 6. For convenience in describing my invention the complete lampholder has not been shown in each figure of the darwings; however, it will be obvious that it is only necessary to duplicate the complete structure described at each location at which 'it is desired to engage a lamp. The showing of three lamp engaging plungers 14 is additionally only for convenience as it again is obvious that if desired one or more lamp engaging plungers 14 may be supported in the same manher.

The plungers 14 are slidably received within the housingti, and in order to facilitate such sliding movement each of the main body portions 24 is provided with a -laterally inwardly extending flange 32 around its pe riphery. The main body portion 24 of each plunger 14 'is also provided with a laterally extending notch 34 at its lower edge which isslidably located over a projection 20, and the upper portion of each plunger 14 is extended outwardly to form a flat surface slidably engageable with the inner surface of the upper side wall of the housing 6 so that the plungers 14 are non-rotatably received within the housing 6.

In order that a lamp having recessed spaced terminals may be properly supported, the outer side of the plunger 14 is provided with an inwardly extending oblong recess '36 (FIGS. '1 and having a longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing 2 when mounted in the'housing 2. As shovm, the recess 36 extends inwardly from the front of projection 26 through the main body portion 24 so that its base is formed by the convex segmentfi27 of the plunger 14. Of prime importance is the fact that the convex segment 27 is provided with an inclined generally vertically extending slot 38 at each side of the vertical center line of the recess 36. The longitudinal center lines of slots 38 are generally parallel to each other and extend to each side of the horizontal center lineof the plunger 14. Each slot 38 extends laterally across the bottom of the recess 36 so that the recess 36 is accessible from the back side thereof. It will be noted that slots 38 are somewhat narrower at one end than the other with the narrower end terminated in a small circular recess 4% which is somewhat below the inner surface of the main body portion 24. A circular post 42 is provided integral with the plunger 14 which is located centrally of the recess 40 and extends inwardly toward the back plate 4. In particular, it will be noted that the slots 38 'are identical but reversed from each other so that posts 42 are spaced from each other on opposite sides of both the vertical and horizontal center lines of the plungers 14.

As shown each plunger 14 is biased by a pair of elongated conical springs 44, of any suitable resilientspring materiahsuch as spring steel, each of which has its smaller 'end'formed-to adiarneterso as tofbeinsertable over and frictionally engage -a post 42. The small endof each spring 44 is also provided with an integral tangentially outwardly extending elongated arm 46 each of which is located substantially tangentially with respect to a post 42 and extends through an adjacent slot 38 from the narrow end to the wide end. Each convex segment 27 is also provided with a pair of spaced sharp projections 43 (FIGS. 4 and 12) adjacent each post 42, respectively, which engages the arms 46 of springs 44 to locate each arm 46 properly in a slot 38. As shown in the central plunger 14 of FIG. 4 when only an arm 46 is located in a slot 38 the projection 48 forces the free end of the arm 46 into engagement with both the bottom and the outer side of the wide end of the slot 38. In order that the arms 46 will extend across the bottom of the recesses 36 at .an angle for a purpose as hereinafter described, the wider end of each slot 38 is located further outwardly of the main body portion 24 toward the plate 4 than the narrow end adjacent the posts 42.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, it will be noted that a pair of springs 44 extend laterally of each of the plungers 14 to bias each of the plungers 14 outwardly and so that the front of the main body portion 24 of each plunger 14 engages the inner surface of the housing 6 adjacent the openings 28. In order to properly locate the larger end of each spring 44, the openings 22 in the sheet 16b are spaced to correspond to and be located opposite the projections 42 which support the smaller ends of the springs. As shown in FIG. 5 the centers of the openings 22 are spaced slightly further apart than the centers of the posts 42 so as to provide additional electrical insulation between the enlarged inner ends of adjacent springs 44. If desired, however, the centers of the openings 22 may be located directly opposite the centers of the posts 42. With the construction as shown, the springs 44 are compressed to permit engagement of the opposite ends of each of the springs 44 with the sheet 1601 and posts 42. As sheet 16a is located immediately behind the openings 22 the large ends of the springs 44 are electrically insulated from the back plate 4. If desired, an enlarged central opening 52 may be provided between each pair of spaced openings 22 for each plunger 14 which diametrically overlaps the openings 22 to provide clearance for the inner end of segment 27 and permit additional movement of the plungers 14 toward the sheet 16a.

Referring to FIGS. 7, 9 and 10' it will be noted that a lamp terminal engaging contact 50 for a lampholder of my construction is of a one-piece flat, elongated, irregular shape which is formed from any suitable electrical conducting material having sufiicient structural strength, such as an alloy of copper. As shown, contact 50 has an elongated rectangular end 56 to which the bared end of an insulated electrical conductor 54 is secured in any suitable manner, such as by being soldered or brazed thereto. The other end of the contact 50 is provided with a projection 58 which extends laterally fiom one side of the contact 50 and an integral arcuate portion 60 which extends from the same side of the contact 50 as the projection 58 and which terminates inwardly of the outer end of the projection 58 to provide a lamp terminal receiving ledge therebetween. A small opening 62 is provided laterally adjacent the arcuate portion 60 and adjacent the upper edge of the contact 50. It will also be noted that the contact 56 is provided with a downwardly extended sloping edge 63 above the opening 62 and projection 58, to provide clearance for the projection 58 within its 10- cating slot. An additional integral projection 64 of approximately the same length as projection 58 is provided between the opening 62 and the secured end of the conductor 54 and which extends from the same side of the contact 50 as the projection 58.

Referring again to FIGS. 3 and 4 it will be notedthat the convex segment 27 of each plunger 14 is provided with adjacent diametrically spaced slots 66 which extend transversely across the slots 38. Also each plunger 14-is provided with an integral .oblong barrier 68 which.:is.lo-

cated centrally within the recess 36 and extends outwardly from the base of the recess 36 with its outer end being spaced inwardly from the front of the projection 26. Each side of each barrier 68 is provided with an openended slot 72 which extends inwardly from the outer end of the barrier 68 to the inner end of the slot 66. The slots 72 and 66 are of the size so as to closely receive a contact 50 therein as hereinafter described. The barrier 68 and the recess 36 are of a size so as to receive a recessed terminal type of lamp base therein in the well known manner. The opposite ends of slots 66 are enlarged laterally to provide clearance for the conductors 54. In order to permit insertion of the projection 64, the main body portion 24 of each plunger 14 is provided with recesses 7 4 in alignment with the slots 66 and having one side open to the recess 36.

With the construction heretofore described it will be obvious that a lampholder may quickly and easily be assembled. The bare end of a conductor 54 is initially attached to a contact 50 and the arm 46 of a spring 44 is slipped through the opening 62 of the contact 50. Accordingly, the opening 62 should be of a size which can freely receive the arm 46. The narrow circular open end of the spring 44 is then slipped over the projection 42 on the back of the plunger 14 and at the same time the arm 46 is aligned with the adjacent slot 38. The small open end of the spring 44 and the projection 42.are of a size so as to be frictionally engaged so that a secure fit is obtained upon forcing the spring 44 down thereon with the small end of the spring being located within the recess 40. It will be noted on the right plunger 14 of FIG.

v4 that the projection 48 is sloped inwardly of the segment 27 to guide the arm 46 into the slot 38.

At the same time the spring 44 is located, the contact 50 which is secured to the arm 46 is slipped into the slot .66 with the projection 58 located adjacent the center of the convex segment 27. Upon forcing the spring 44 downwardly the projection 58 passes through the slot 66 and enters the-slot 72 at the side of the barrier 68. Such outward movement of the contact 50 is limited by the engagement of the projection 64 with the base of the locating recess 74 and by engagement of the spring arm 46 with the bottom of its slot 38.

In order to positively secure the conductors 54 within the housing 6 and prevent their entanglement with the plungers 14 or the springs 44 during the operation of the lampholder, the flange 32 of each plunger 14 is pro vided with opposed slots 76' at the outer ends of the contacts 50. In addition, the flange 32 of each plunger 14 is provided with opposed slots 78 immediately below the upper edge thereof. The slots 76 and 78 are of a size so as to slightly crimp the insulating material on the sides of a conductor 54 when inserted in a slot, whereby the various conductors 54 are prevented from being stressed during the period the lampholder is installed.

As more clearly shown in FIG. 8 the slot 78 at one side of each plunger 14 is provided with a laterally outward flared end 79 at its inner end to facilitate insertion of a conductor 54. Also each plunger :14 is provided with ,an integral hook portion 81 which extends laterally inwardly of the right slot 78. With such construction a conductor 54 is easily located within the flared end 79 of the slot 78, pushed downwardly into the slot 78 past and thereafter expand so as to be securely located with- -in the slot 78. Thus, due to the interference between the hook portion 81 and a conductor 54, a conductor.

54 will be prevented from slipping out of the slot 78 when the plunger 14 is moved inwardly and outwardly.

Also, it is obvious that each of the slots 76 may be con structed in the aboye-described manner. It will be noted that openings 82 are provided inthe upper side-wall of the housing 6 in order to permit the conductors 54 to extend therefrom. With the particular arrangement of a pair of slots 76 and a pair of slots 78 it will be seen that a plunger 14 can be used in any position within the housing 6. AtEter this preliminary assembly has been done for each of the plungers 14 the back support 16 is inserted in place as previously indicated with the enlarged coils of the springs 44 being located in the openings 22. Thereafter the support 2 is secured as heretofore indicated.

When the lampholder is assembled as heretofore described it will particularly be noted that each arm 46 of each spring 44 forms a cantilever beam which biases the contact 50 in at least two directions whereby the requisite electrical contact between a contact 50 and an inserted lamp terminal is obtained. Inasmuch as the wide end of each slot 68 is spaced further outwar dly from the bottom of the recess 40 than the narrow end (FIG. 11), it will be obvious that the free end of each arm '46 engages the bottom of the wide end of the slot 38 before the open end of the spring 42 is pushed entirely over the projection 42. Accordingly, further forcing of the open end of the spring 42 forces the portion of the arm 46 adjacent the spring 44 into engagement with the bottom of the narrow end of the slot'38 so that the arm' 46 is initially deflected longitudinally within the slot 38 and is held in such position at all times by the spring 44. It will also be noted on the left plunger 14 of FIG. 4 and also in FIG. 12, that the opening 62 of the contact 50 is located with respect to the slot 38 so that the free end of the arm 46 is located between the sides of the wide end of the slot 38 whereby the arm 46 is deflected laterally within the slot 38 about the projection 48. In order to so laterally locate the arm 46 the pro jection 64 also engages the bottom of the recess 74.

This lateral deflection of the arm 46 stresses the arm laterally and biases the contact 50 toward the outer end of the slot 66 in which it is located to the position where the projection 64 engages the bottom of recess 74 and the inner end of the contact including the projection 58 is spaced from the barrier 68. The deflection of arm 46 longitudinally Within the slot 38 stresses the arm longitudinally and acts to hold the contact 50 at a predetermined position in the slot 66. With the recessed type of lamp terminal, the terminal engages the arcuate portion 60 of each contact 50 and the adjacent side of projection 58 in a manner to force each of the contacts 50 somewhat in one direction toward the barrier 68 and principally in a direction through the slot 66 toward the support 16. Due to the spring arm 46 and them-anner in Which it is normally stressed, the movement of the cont-act 50 in both directions due to engagement by the inserted lamp terminal is resiliently opposed, whereby a good electrical contact is obtained therebetween.

By utilizing a conical spring to bias the plunger 14 a minimum solid height is obtained whereby the structure is adapted to be utilized in the preexisting relatively small space requirements. Further, the simplified structure of spring 44; and particularly the fact that no subsequent operations after winding the spring are required, results in an inexpensive component for biasing the plunger 14 and the contact 50. Inasmuch as the plunger -14 as described herein, is of an intricate shape and must of necessity be formed from an electrical insulating material,

,it is preferably formed by being molded from a suitable "metal basecap -84 with a centralinsert85 of insulating material, for example a molded insulating material of oblong shape and of a size to fit in the outer plunger recess 36. The insert 85 has a central narrow elongated opening 86 with wires 87 from the adjacent lamp electrode located along opposite ends of the opening and extending out through the opening where they are reversely and oppositely bent to have their ends received in recesses 88 adjacent opposite ends of the opening 36 in the outer surface of the insert 85.

It will be observed in FIG. 9 that as a lamp base insert 85 is inserted into a plunger recess 36 that the wires 87 will first engage the contact projections 58 and move the contacts toward each other with the wires 87 in engagement with the adjacent side edges of the contact projections 58, respectively. This results 'in bending the spring arms laterally at projections 48 (FIG. 12). Thereafter the wires 87 will seat in the corners between the rounded projections 60 and the projections 50 in engagement with adjacent edges of each at least at two points where the wires emerge from the insert 85 and are reversely bent. Finally, as shown in FIG. 10, the contacts 50 will be moved inwardly while stressing the spring arms 46 longitudinally.

Although I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention in accordance with the Patent Statutes, I am aware that modifications thereof are possible without departing from the broad spirit and scope of my invention as defined in the following claims:

I claim as my invention:

1. A wiring device comprising an insulating support having a recess extending inwardly from one side thereof, said support having an insulating barrier extending approximately centrally from the base of said recess toward the open end thereof, spaced first slots in the other side of said support opening into the inner end of said recess and extending outwardly from opposite sides of said barrier, said opposite sides of said barrier having slots extending from the face end thereof to said first slots, respectively, electrical contacts movably located within said first slots, respectively, spaced second slots extending in the other side of said support opening into the inner end of said recess and extending generally transverse to said first slots, respectively, said second slots extending outwardly from opposite sides of said recess, elongated spring arms located within said second slots, respectively, engaging said contacts to bias said contacts toward the open end of said recess, and separate spaced means engageable with one end of said spring arms respectively, to hold said spring arms within said slots.

2. A wiring device comprising an insulating support having at least one recess extending inwardly from one side thereof, at least one pair of generally transverse slots in the other side of said support opening into the inner end of said recess, at least one of said slots extending outwardly beyond each side of said recess, an electrical contact movably located within the other of said slots, an elongated spring arm located within said one slot and engaging said contact to bias said contact toward the open outer end of said recess, and means engageable with said spring arm to hold said spring arm within said one slot.

'3. A wiring device comprising an insulating support having at least one recess extending inwardly from one side thereof, at least one pair of generally transverse slots in the other side of said support opening into the inner end of said recess, at least one of said slots extending outwardly beyond each side of said recess, an electrical contact movably located within the other of said slots having an opening therein in alignment with said one slot, an elongated spring arm located within said slot and extending through said opening in said contact to bias said contact toward the open outer end of said recess, and means engageable with said spring arm to hold said spring arm within said one slot.

4. A.wiring device comprising an insulating support having at least one recess extending inwardly from one side thereof, at least one pair of generally transverse slots in the other side of said support opening into the inner end of said recess, at least one of said slots extending outwardly beyond each side of said recess, an electrical contact movably located within the other of said slots having an opening therein in alignment with said one slot, an elongated spring arm located within said one slot and extending through said opening in said contact to bias said contact toward the open outer end of said recess, and one end of said one slot being located a greater distance from the inner end of said recess than the other end thereof so that said spring arm extends non-perpendicularly with respect to said contact.

5. A wiring device comprising a metal housing having oppositely spaced walls at least one of which has an opening therein, a plunger of insulating material having a portion engageable through said opening and having means engageable with said one Wall to limit movement thereof toward said one wall, at least one resiliently mounted electrical contact means supported on the inner side of said portion .of said plunger for electrically energizing at least one contact of an electric lamp, at least one integral support means extending outwardly from said plunger toward the other of said spaced walls, an insulating member supported by said other wall oppositely from said support means, an elongated resilient coiled spring having opposite ends engaging said plunger and said insulating member to bias said plunger toward said one wall, and the end of said coiled spring engaging said plunger being closely received about said support means.

6. A wiring device comprising a metal housing having oppositely spaced walls at least one of which has an opening therein, a plunger of insulating material having a portion engageable through said opening and having means engageable with said one wall to limit movement thereof toward said one wall, resiliently mounted electrical contact means supported on the inner side of said portion of said plunger for electrically energizing at least one contact of an electric lamp, at least one integral support means extending outwardly from said plunger toward the other of said spaced walls, an insulating member supported by said other wall oppositely from said support means, an elongated resilient coiled spring having opposite ends engaging said plunger and said insulating member to bias said plunger toward said one wall, the end of said spring engaging the plunger being closely received about said support means, and the other end of said coiled spring being closely located within an opening in said insulating member extending partially therethrough toward said other wall of said housing.

7. A wiring device comprising a housing having at least one wall with an opening therein, a plunger of insulating material having a portion engageable through said opening and having means engageable with said one wall to limit movement thereof toward said one wall, at least one recess extending inwardly from the engageable portion of said plunger, at least one pair of generally transverse slots extending inwardly from the other side of said plunger through the inner end of said recess, at least one of said slots extending outwardly beyond each side of said recess, an electrical contact movably located in the other of said slots, an elongated resilient coiled means having one end engaging said plunger and its other end engaging said housing to bias said plunger toward said one wall of said housing, said coiled means having an integral elongated arm extending therefrom, and said arm being located within said one slot and engaging said contact to bias said contact toward the open end of said recess.

8. A wiring device comprising a housing having at least one wall with an opening therein, a plunger of insulating material having a portion engageable through said opening and having means engageable with said one wall to limit movement thereof toward said one wall, at least one recess extending inwardly from the engageable portion of said extending inwardly from the other side of said plunger through the inner end of said recess, at least one of said slots extending outwardly beyond each side of said recess, an electrical contact movably located in the other of said slots having an opening therein in alignment with said one slot, an elongated resilient coiled means having one end engaging said plunger and its other end engaging said housing to bias said plunger toward said one wall of said housing, said coiled means having an integral elongated arm extending therefrom, and said arm being located within said one slot and extending through said opening in said contact to bias said contact toward the open end of said recess.

9. A wiring device comprising a housing having oppositely spaced walls at least one of which has an opening therein, a plunger of insulating material having a portion engageable through said opening and having means engageable with said one wall to limit movement thereof toward said one wall, at least one resiliently mounted electrical contact means supported on the inner portion of said plunger for electrically energizing at least one contact of an electric lamp, a flange extending transversely from said plunger toward the other of said walls of said housing, an open-ended slot in said flange, an electrical conductor comprising a conducting means surrounded by a compressible insulating means, said conducting means being connected to said contact and extending therefrom through said slot, and integral means extending laterally of said slot to cause compression of said insulating means upon said conductor when said conductor is forced inwardly in said slot.

'10. A wiring device comprising a housing having oppositely spaced walls at least one of which has an opening therein, a plunger of insulating material having a portion engageable through said opening and having means engageable with said one wall to limit movement thereof toward said one wall, at least one resiliently mounted electrical contact means supported on the inner portion of said plunger for electrically energizing at least one contact of an electric lamp, a flange extending transversely from said plunger toward the other of said walls of said housing, an open-ended slot in said flange, an electrical conductor comprising a conducting means surrounded by a compressible insulating means, said conducting means being connected to said contact, said slot being flared laterally outward at its open end to initially receive said conductor therein, and integral means extending laterally of said slot to cause compression of said insulating means upon said conductor when said conductor is forced inwardly in said slot.

11. A wiring device comprising a housing having at least one wall with an opening therein, a plunger of insulating material having a portion engageable through said opening and having means engageable with said one wall to limit movement thereof toward said one wall, at least one recess extending inwardly from said engageable portion of said plunger, at least one pair of generally transverse slots extending inwardly of said plunger through the inner end of said recess, at least one of said slots extending outwardly beyond each side of said recess, an electrical contact movably located in the other of said slots, an elongated spring arm located within said one slot and engaging said contact to bias said contact toward the open end of said recess, resilient means extending between said plunger and said housing to bias said plunger toward said one wall, and said resilient means engaging said spring arm to bias said spring arm into said one slot.

12. A wiring device comprising a housing having an opening in one wall thereof, a plunger of insulating material mounted in said housing for reciprocal movement toward and away from said opening, means for limiting movement of said plunger in the direction toward said opening to one position in the vicinity of the opening, at

. least one opening in said plunger, a contact mounted on the inner side of said plunger and spanning said opening, a coil compression spring in said housing reacting between said plunger and the wall of the housing opposite said one wall to bias the plunger to its aforesaid one position, and said spring engaging said plunger at a point ofiset from the opening in said plunger and having an extension of its innermost coil engaging said contact to resiliently maintain the contact in operative position. v

13. A wiring device comprising an insulating support having at least one opening therein, a contact spanning said opening and having a first means engageable with one side of said opening so that said contact is locatable in a definite relationship with respect to said opening, an'elongated spring arm extending transversely to said contact and having a point spaced from said contact secured to said support so that said spring arm is flexible about said point with respect to said support, a second means on said contact which is engaged by a portion of said spring arm, and said second means being located between said portion of said spring arm and said first means so that said first means is biased to said one side of said opening.

14. A wiring device comprising an insulating support having at least one opening therein, a contact spanning said opening and having a first means engageable with a portion of said support so that said contact is locatable in a definite relationship with respect to said opening, an elongated spring arm having a point spaced from said contact secured to said support so that said spring arm is flexible about said point with respect to said support, a second means on said contact which is engaged by a portion of said spring arm, and said second means being located between said portion of said spring arm and said first means so that said first means is biased toward said portion of said support. A

15. A wiring device comprising an insulating support having at least one opening therein, a contact spanning said opening and having an opening therein, a first means on said contact engageable with one side of said opening in said support so that said contact is locatable in a definite relationship with respect thereof, an elongated spring arm extending through said opening in said contact transversely to said contact having a point spaced from said contact secured to said support so that said spring arm is flexible about said point with respect to said support to bias said contact in one direction, and means on said support engaging said contact on opposite sides of said opening to support said spring arm angularly with respect to said contact laterally so that said contact is biased in a direction at an angle to said one direction.

16. A wiring device comprising a housing having an opening in one wall thereof, a plunger of insulating material mounted in said housing for reciprocal movement toward and away from said opening, means for limiting movement of said plunger in the direction toward said opening to one position in the vicinity of the opening, at least one opening in said plunger, a contact mounted on the inner side of said plunger at said opening for movement inwardly of the housing and in a lateral direction with respect to said inward movement thereof, spring means in said housing having one part reacting between said plunger and the wall of the housing opposite said one wall to bias the plunger to its aforesaid one position, and another part of said spring means reacting between said plunger and said contact to bias said contact to one extremity of its aforesaid movement in a lateral direction and to resiliently oppose inward movement of said contact.

17. A wiring device comprising a housing having an opening in one wall thereof, a plunger of insulating material mounted in said housing for reciprocal movement toward and away from said opening, means for limiting movement of said plunger in the direction toward said opening to one position in the vicinity of the opening, at least one opening in said plunger, a contact mounted on the inner side of said plunger at said opening for movement inwardly of the housing and in a lateral direction with respect to said inward motion, spring means in said housing having one part reacting between said plunger and the wall of the housing opposite said one wall to bias the plunger to its aforesaid one position, and another part of said spring means reacting between said plunger and said contact and being under stress in two different directions to bias said contact to one extremity of its aforesaid movement in a lateral direction and to resiliently oppose inward movement of said contact.

18. A wiring device comprising a housing having an opening in one wall thereof, a plunger of insulating material mounted in said housing for reciprocal movement toward and away from said opening, means for limiting movement of said plunger in the direction toward said opening to one position in the vicinity of the opening, at least one opening in said plunger, a contact mounted on the inner side of said plunger at said opening, spring means in said housing biasing said plunger to its arforesaid one position and maintaining said contact in operative position at said opening, a flange extending transversely from said plunger toward another wall or said housing which is opposite said one wall of said housing, anopen-ended slot in said flange, an electrical conductor comprising conducting means surrounded by a compressible insulating means, said conducting means being connected to said contact and said conductor extending from said contact through said slot, and means integral with said flange extending laterally into said slot for retaining said conductor in said slot, said conductor being insertable into said slot over said integral means.

19. A'wiring device comprising an insulating support having at least one opening, an elongated contact memher spanning said opening, guide means being provided adjacently of one side of said support for the purpose of generally locating said contact in its spanning position, and a separate elongated spring arm for biasing said contact inwardly and to one side of said support opening, and means for supporting said spring arm relative to said support so as to enable said spring arm to extend generally parallel to said one support side and generally laterally through an opening in said contact, said spring arm engaging said contact so as resiliently to hold said contact relative to said support opening as previously described, said guide means enabling said contact to be pivotable about its opening relative to said spring arm, whereby a load terminal inserted through said support opening from the support side opposite said one support side resiliently deflects said contact unitaa'ily relative to said guide means and pivotally relative to said spring arm so as to be provided with an eflective electrical engagement with said contact.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,208,874 Wilson Dec. 19, 1916 1,605,033 Jensen Nov. 2, 1926 2,102,625 Hubbell Dec. 21, 1937 2,401,555 De Reamer June 4, 1946 2,716,739 Lemmers Aug. 30, 1955 2,728,057 ODonnell et a1. Dec. 20, 1955 2,743,424 Hassinger Apr. 24, 1956 2,814,788 Godfrey Nov. 26, 19 57 FOREIGN PATENTS 481,855 Canada Mar. 18,1952 521,642 Germany Mar. 25, 1931 

